Page 78 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Pain went through the Duke at her monotone words. It was probably the worst instance to bring up this topic, but he felt he needed to know.
“Which reminds me, who is Sebastian?”
The red in the Duchess’ face drained so quickly that Moses feared she would faint. He reached for her, but she brushed his hand off and grabbed at the edge of her chaise-lounge. With trembling fingers, she clutched it and walked herself back to sit. There, she pressed her delicate hand against her eyes.
“W-where did you hear that… name?” her voice was as faint as her pale face.
“Caroline told me,” Moses admitted, “She overheard you in the grandstand at Edward’s race. Who is he, Lavinia?”
“An old acquaintance I had in the past,” the Duchess spoke with her voice getting stronger, “I had nearly forgotten about him, but it is not a pleasant memory, Moses, please do not let me relive it.”
There is something more, I know it, there is something she is hiding from me…but am I any different?
Deeming to get answers from her another time, Moses clenched his jaw.
Curious, my eyes followed only to see Miss Orville, Lavinia’s maid, sneering at Caroline. The moment she saw me looking at her, her face went pale. She curtseyed, turned and hurried away.
“She hates me,” Caroline murmured, “Just like her mistress does.”
“Miss Orville is the culprit and I will get her to answer to her crimes. I am sorry, Lavinia, but this has to be done,” Moses said in surety.
With one hand still covering her eyes, the Duchess waved him off and Moses left. He came back to the dining room where it looked like no one had even moved a foot out of place. “You are all free to regain your duties.”
A palpable state of relief went through the room as the servants went off to their duties. Heading back to his study, Moses knew that Miss Orville was now as a leaf in the wind. It would take a miracle to find her.
Wait! If she was in collusion with Caroline’s uncle…she would run to him for protection. I know I would. But then again, she would know that is the first place I would search. She would not go there, it must be somewhere else… but where?
“Hinds, please send out a pageboy to the local authorities, I need our officers to search far and wide for Miss Orville as she is associated with a criminal.”
* * *
The Earldom of Crampton
Peregrine was just finishing another glass of wine when his butler, Mr. Wesley, knocked.
“Enter,” the Earl ordered.
“My Lord,” the manservant spoke, “There is a woman here by the name of Miss Janet Orville. She has requested asylum with you.”
The glass hit the table so hard it was a miracle that it did not shatter in the Earl’s hand. “The foolish girl! Why would she come here? Is she that much of a cork-brained simpleton?”
Mr. Wesley stood as Peregrine seethed and when he paused in his curses asked, “What should I do with her, My Lord?”
“Nothing,” Peregrine said as he stood. “I will deal with her myself. Send her to my study, but in the meantime, get a lesser used carriage and drive it to the entrance of the Northside woods. You are dismissed.”
Bowing, the man left and the Earl tugged out his desk drawer. How stupid was this girl to show up at his home when she was a spy in the Hayward home? Did she not know the rules of espionage? He had met the wench just after his fruitless time with his daughter, when he had gone to visit.
It was only when her hand fell from his grip that he realized his daughter was asleep. Sighing, Peregrine levered himself up and kissed her on her forehead.
She did not hear a word I said. Peregrine sighed. “Goodnight, Lavinia.”
Walking out of the room, he paused to cast a look over his shoulder and sigh, “I will do what I can to help you, my daughter.”
“If you will pardon me, My Lord,” a voice said from the doorway, “I know what can be done.”
Peregrine had turned to see the speaker and found a young woman, not much older than the dratted governess, standing in the shadows of the hallway. He gestured to her to come.
“And what would that be?”
